Bryan Huang Enjoys Happy Memories of Macau’s Grand Waldo

Huang is thrilled to see the PokerStars Macau returning to the Grand Waldo Entertainment Complex early next month for Asia’s largest and wealthiest tournaments.

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by Poker Girl

May 15, 2012 0

Bryan Huang Enjoys Happy Memories of Macau’s Grand Waldo

Singapore’s Bryan Huang is thrilled to see that the PokerStars Macau is returning to the magnificent Grand Waldo Entertainment Complex early next month for Asia’s largest and wealthiest tournaments.

The 10-day Macau Poker Cup (MPC) Red Dragon event kicks off on Sunday, June 9, at the Grand Waldo after three years in the Casino Grand Lisboa from 2009 to 2011 – ensuring that PokerStars’ Team Pro Bryan Huang can relive some great memories.

The most successful Singaporean ever is happy that the three-year contract at the Casino Grand Lisboa ended in March as he will now be returning to the venue where he made his first big final table – taking third place for $153,841 at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) HKD$25,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em main event back in September of 2008 – and also where I met my wife.

Red Dragon Relaunches Return

The always-popular Red Dragon series of the MPC will relaunch the return to the Grand Waldo on June 9 until the 18th, with the new poker room located in the main casino section, although all special events will take place in the newly-opened, 3,950-square metre conference and exhibition centre.

The poker festival – which will include nine Official Asia Player of the Year tournaments – features the renowned Red Dragon main event that possesses a HKD$3 million guaranteed prize pool.

Organisers expect a huge field for this event, with Huang adding that, as the PokerStars Macau tournaments are growing at a ridiculous rate, he believes that returning to the Grand Waldo is an exciting step to adequately fill the monster fields that are becoming the norm in Asia.

PokerStars and the Grand Waldo began their association back in May of 2008 – not long before Huang’s breakthrough victory – when the latter became the poker room’s first live venue in Macau.

‘It’s Like Coming Home’

However, after just one year, PokerStars moved to the Casino Grand Lisboa in March of 2009 to make this venue the planet’s biggest poker room.

Still, PokerStars Asia-Pacific director of live operations Danny McDonagh – like Huang – reckons it feels good to be returning to the Grand Waldo, saying it’s like coming home after a long trip.

McDonagh also believes players can expect a lot more of the Grand Waldo as the entire complex has been getting a makeover recently – partly in preparation for the series’ return – while he also pointed out that PokerStars Macau will run cash games in the casino and major poker tournaments in the conference and exhibition centre.

This, he reckons, will provide PokerStars with new opportunities to enhance the poker-playing experience at what is a truly spectacular venue that also houses a 24-hour family-oriented spa and a chic nightclub.

Macau To Host Four Major Events In 2012

PokerStars also announced that the Macau Poker Cup (MPC) Championship and Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP) will definitely be staged in September and November respectively, although there are also several new additions to the Macau calendar.

Macau will play host to four major live tournaments between now and the end of the year, with the most notable being the PokerStars.net APPT Season Six stop. This 16-day poker festival – which kicks off on October 26 until November 11 – will feature a HKD$30,000 buy-in High Roller.

As this APPT leg is also running alongside the ACOP, that tournament won’t actually possesses the biggest buy-in during the stop, with the ACOP $100,000 buy-in main event guaranteeing $10 million in prizes.

Additionally, the ACOP Platinum Series will now form part of the MPC schedules next month, as well as in July and September. This special series will see the last 10 players from each of the HKD$500,000 guaranteed tournaments playing off for a HKD$100,000 seat at the ACOP main event.

PokerStars Macau Schedule (all HKD$)

*June 9 to 18 (expanded schedule below)

Macau Poker Cup Red Dragon, $11,000 buy-in Red Dragon Main Event ($3 million guaranteed)

July 28 to August 6

Macau Poker Cup Red Dragon, $11,000 buy-in Red Dragon Main Event ($3 million guaranteed)

September 7 to 16

Macau Poker Cup Championship 2012, $20,000 buy-in Main Event ($4.5 million guaranteed)

October 26 to November 11

Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP), $100,000 buy-in Main Event ($10 million guaranteed)

*Macau Poker Cup Red Dragon Schedule (all HKD$)

Saturday, June 9

14:10, $450+$50 buy-in 3xTurbo Rebuy Red Dragon Satellite (five seats guaranteed)

17:00, $1,200+$100 buy-in Satellite to event #1 (ACOP Platinum Series)

20:10, event #1, $5,000+$500 buy-in ACOP Platinum Series Day 1 ($500,000 guaranteed)

Sunday, June 10

14:10, event #2, $500+$400+$100 buy-in Charity Event + Two Rebuys ($50,000 added prizes)

16:00, event #1, $5,000+$500 buy-in ACOP Platinum Series Day 2

19:00, $1,100+$100 buy-in Red Dragon Satellite

Monday, June 11